Six RCTs (n=224 patients) were included in the review. All trials scored 3 on the Jadad scale. All trials fulfilled the items related to randomisation and reporting of withdrawals, but none of the trials were double blinded.
Compared with total parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition was associated with significantly decreased infections (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.46), pancreatitis related complications (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.89), organ failure (0.33, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.67), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (0.31, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.74) and mortality (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.67).
There were no significant differences between groups for artificial nutrition related complications or non-pancreatitis related complications.
There was no evidence of statistical heterogeneity for any of the comparisons, except for non-pancreatitis related complications (p=0.008).